Wrench



Mwah u 1924.

T` H. ROSS WRENCH Original Filed April 8. 1922 Patented lifter. li, i924.

JE T-amig ''OlirIAS H. 'Bt-OSS, 0F BROKLYN, NEVI YORK, SSGfNGR CF ONE-Iii T0 ROBERT K. STORY, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y.

WRENCH.

Application filed. April 8, 1322, Serial No. 550,766.

To all whom 15 may conce/m.

Be it hnoivn that l, 'lironrns H. Ross, a citizen of the United States, and resident ot the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New `vYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, ot' which the following is a clear and exact specilication, reference heA ing had to the drawing, which 'forms a part ot this specification.

This invention relates to Wrenches, ant my improvements are directed to a certain novel construction and interacting relation ot object engaging parts whereby in the movement oi a Wrench in one direction an engaged object. is gripped with increasing tenacity, utilizing the head portion of the Wrench as a fulcrum, While in its opposite direction orp movement the engaging parts of the Wrench are relaxed to release and pass freely about the object.

For these purposes my invention consists of a handle or stoclr in whose head portion there is pivotally held a jaw that extends angularly therefrom, this pivotal jaw having an angular extension; another jaw, opposed to the pivotal jaw, also having an angular extension, the angular extensions ot both ja-Ws being in intertting slidable relation, and having their respective tulcral upon the head portion of the Wrench stoclt.

The jaws are normally urged toward each other under moderate spring pressure to accord them initial engaging Vcontact upon an interposed Work-object, but the gripping action ot the jaws upon the Work-object is acquired by movement of the stoel; in one direction, in which operation the head portion of the stock provides separate 'ulcra to press the jaws more tightly upon the Work-object; Whereas movement of the stock in the opposite direction has the eii'ect of releasing the grip oi' the jaws, permitting them to slip freely over the Work-object preparatory to applying another turn thereto.

The arrangement whereby the jaws are in slidable interfitting relation includes the provision that as they press oppositely upon an interposed Work object the jaws are eir Renewed January 31., 1924.

. 3 is a iront vieiv of the Wrench. il 1s a. side elevation ot the slidable is rear vieiv thereof. g. (i is a side elevation of the pivoted jaw, a d

Fig. 7 is a rear vieiv thereof.

In the Afigures let. the numeral l indicate the Wrench handle or stock, having the bitureated head portion 2 which has the pivotal pin 3, and the terminal, peripheral7 arcuate-surfaces y-l that are in concentric relation to pin 3, and that intersect, rearwardly or' the transverse plane occupied by the pin, respectively with the arcuatesurtaces 5 and upon the 'liront and rear orn the head portion.

One ot the Wrench. jaws T, is journaled on pin 3, and this jaw, tor purposes of identitication, will be hereinafter referred to as the pivotal jaw. This jaw 7 has the tace or ob ject gripping portion S, the reduced portion 9 to enter between the bifurcations of head portion Q, Where it is engaged by pin 3, and the 'further reduced` angular extension l0, having base lz'inges ll,

It vill he noted that the flanges' 1l, at each side ot portion 10, are, for a portion ot their extent, in parallelism with the shoulders i2 'formed by portion 9, and that angled surfaces 13 ot iianges il are in parat lelism vwith angular extensions 14C ot shoulders i'if. The signiiicance ot' these features vfill appear hereinafter in the description of the operation of the Wrench.

lt should also be noted that the angulaiextension l0 is provided With a longitudinal slot 15. llhe rear surfaces ot the object gripping portion 8 will be seen to have segmental parts 16a, which co-act Y with the peripheral surfaces a oi the stock.

The other jaw, 16, has the gripping portion 17 and an angular, biturcated extension comprising the parallel spaced members 18, which are reduced at their outer surfaces to provide recesses 19, the shoulders at one end or each recess having the angular surfaces 20, 21 and 22, and the shoulders at the other end oit each recess having the angular surfaces 23, 21 and 25.

The recesses'19 are adapted, respectiv-ely, to receive the biturcated head-portion 2, whose arcuate-surfaces 5 and 6 respectively co-act with the surfaces 23 and 20, the headsuri'acesfl (zo-acting with suriiaces 21 and 241, which Serve as stops, and the wrench-stock coi-acting with surfaces 22, 25, which also serve as stops.

The space between members 19 is adapted tor the receptionot the extension 10 of jaw 7, in order that the extensions 10 and 18 may interiit in slidable relation. The opposed inner surfaces oit recesses 19 are provided with grooves 26, to contain a helical spring 27 which, in the interiitted relation ot the jaws, also lies within the slot 15 cie extension 10. A pin 28, secured within 'the members 18, serves as an anchorage 'for one end of spring 27, whose opposite end bears tensionally against the end 29 of slot 15.

rlhe gripping portions ot the jaws 7 and 16 are represented as being normally in substantially parallel, spaced relation, the teeth of portion 8 being inclined outwardly, and the Vteeth of portion 17 being' inclined inwardly. lrlheretore these respective teeth tend to bite engagingly into the respective surfaces of an interposed work-object, with which they contact in a direction opposite to the direction of resistance, to thus more e-iectually grip such object, whilst also permitting the teeth to more smoothly glide over the surface oi' the work-object, to release it, when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction.

It will be observed that while the jaw 7 is journalled on pin 3, its ulcrum is provided by the head ot the stock, whose end peripheral surfaces l co-act with the concaved seats 16n behind the aw face, so that when the jaws 7 and 16 grip a work object, as shown at 30 in Fig. 2, the wrench being swung' Vin the direction of the arrow, rela.- tive concentric oscillatory movement only will be possible between the jaw 7 and head 2.

The jaw 16 is not journalled at all in the head 2, being as stated, slidably intertted with jaw 7; but jaw 16 also has its ulcrum provided by the head 2, because, by means ot its recesses 19 formed in the respective cuter sides ot members 18, seats are instituted for the reception of those portions of head 2 which include the Vcurvedsurfaces 5 and 6, whereby the shoulder-surfaces 2O co-act with the arcuate-surfaces 6, and the shoulder surfaces 23 coact with the arcuate-surfaces 5.

In the operation of my improved Wrench, with a worleobject, such for example as a pipe 30, interposed between the jaws 7, 16, the effect is as :follows:

The spring 27 is provided t'or the purpose of extending the extensionsv 10, 18 to the limit ot their movement, which is determined by the engagement of surface 25 with the stock, thus causing the jaw portions 8, 17 to be drawn toward each other to reduce the extent of their work-object receiving gap to the minimum. TheV wrench is shown in this condition inFig. 1. rI'hen the jaws, as will be perceived, by reason oit the curved lips upon their -jaw portions 8, 17 may, by pressure against the worleobject, yield apart, against the tension of the spring, to receiv the work-object.

rlhe spring pressure with which the teeth or" the jaws engage the work object provides only initial Contact, and is merely intended to automatically adjust the wrench jaws to their operative position about the workobject. Y

As thus adjusted, pressure is then to be applied to the stock 1 in the direction of' the arrow, 2) which has the effect of causing the jaws to rip the worl: object with increasing tenacity as. the pressure is amplified for the purpose of tuin ing the work-object.

In this action the stock h-ead surfaces l provide a constant bearing for the jaw 7 at its segniental seats 16a, while the curved peripheral surfaces 5 of the stock, co-acting with the bearings 23 on extensions 18 of the jaw 16, thereby apply the leverage which enables 'the jaws to exercise the powerful gripping hold upon the work-object that is characteristic orl my improved wrench.

Also, it must be particularly noted that as the gripping leverage is applied upon the work-object in the manner indicated, 'the jaw 7 is capable of rocking inwardly toward the jaw 16 on account ot the inclined deviations 13 and 1li respectively from `the lines of its slide bearings 12 and flanges 11, which thug afford slack or play, whose take up under pressure of the leverage, permits the gripping stress to be exerted in inwardly angled lines oi force from the respective jaws. There is thus constituted a partial girdling or embracing grip of great power, whereby any screw joint may be turned. L

ln order to obtain a new purchase of the work-object the wrench is merely swung in the reverse direction, in which it will have no gripping action, the jaw teeth slipping over the work-object, in preparatin for applying a further power turn. In this action the arcuate-surfaces 6 bear against the seats 20, thus spreading the jaws apart.

The sei-rations 3l upon one end of extension l0 are provided for the application of thumb pressure, while grasping the stock with one hand, to spread apart the jaws against the tension of spring 27, in fitting the wrench to the work-object and in withdrawing it therefrom.

The serrations 32, outside jaw portion 1'? may be desirable for large sized wrenches. when the spring 27 is more powerful, in or der that the serrated surfaces 81 and 32 may be grasped between the thumb and fingers of the free hand to expand the jaws.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim l. A wrench comprising a stock, a pivot carried thereby, a jaw mounted on the pivot, and a complementary jaw slidably mounted on the stock, behind the pivot, the stock having peripheral bearing surfaces in separate transverse planes respectivelyT through the pivot and rearwardly thereof, which coact directly with the jaws to apply gripping leverage thereto.

2. A wrench having in combination a stoel; with a bifurcated head, a pivot carried by the head, a jaw mounted on the pivot in the head7 and a complementary jaw lying within the head in slidable relation to the pivotal aw, the head having peripheral bearing surfaces in separate transverse planes, respectively through the pivot and rearwart ly thereof, which co-act directly with the jaws to apply gripping leverage thereto.

S. A wrench having in combination a stock, a jaw pivotally mounted thereon, and a complementary jaw in longitudinally slidable relation to the pivotal jaw, the stock having bearing surfaces which co-act with the jaws to apply gripping leverage thereto, and the jaws being provided with means of relative lateral movement, permitting their lines of gripping force to be exerted in inward angles.

et. A wrench having in combination a stock with a bifurcated head, a pivot carried by the head, a jaw mounted on the pivot in the head, a. complementary jaw lying within the head in slidable relation zto the pivotal jaw, the head having peripheral bearing surfaces in separate transverse planes, respectively through the pivot and rearwardly thereof, which co-act directly with the jaws to apply gripping leverage thereto, and tensional means to normally urge the jaws toward each other to establish their initial contact with an interposed work-object.

5. A wrench comprising in combination a freely stock witha bifurcated head, having an end arcuate bearing and a rearward arcuate bearing, a jaw pivotally held in the head, the jaw having a gripping face portion, and a rearwardy surface to co-act with the end arcuate-bearing .on the stock, the jaw also having a rearward, reduced portion whereby it is pivotally mounted in the head, and having an angular extension; and a complementary jaw opposed to the pivotal jaw having an angular extension in interitting slidable relation with the angular extension of the pivotal jaw, the slidable jaw coacting with the rearward arcuate bearing on the head for the application of gripping pressure between the jaws upon Aswinging the stock about a work object.

6. A wrench comprising in combination, a stock with a bifurcated head, having an end arcuate bearing and a rearward arcuate bearing, a jaw pivotally held in the head, the aw having a gripping face portion, and a rearward surface to co-act with the end arcuate bearing on the stock, the jaw also having a rearward, reduced portion whereby it is pivotally mounted in the head, and

Ahaving an angular extension; a complementary jaw opposed to the pivotal jaw having an angular extension in interfitting slidable relation with the angular extension of the pivotal jaw, the slidable jaw co-acting with the rearward arcuate bearing on the head for the application of gripping pressure between the jaws upon swinging the stock about a work object, and the extensions having lateral, angled clearances in their interfitted relation which enable the jaws to rock in object embracing manner under the application of gripping stress.

7 A wrench comprising a pair of opposed jaws having angled extensions in intertitting, mutually slidable relation, a stock, and a pivot holding one of the jaws to the stock, the pivotal jaw having a seat behind its work-face to co-act with the peripheral end of the stock in the transverse plane of the pivot, and the other jaw having a seat on its extension to also co-act with the stock, rearwardly of the pivot.

8. A wrench comprising a pair of opposed jaws having angled extensions in interfitting, mutually slidable relation, a stock, and a. pivot holding one of the jaws to the stock, the pivotal jaw having a seat behind its work-face to co-act with the peripheral end of the stock in the transverse plane of the pivot, the other jaw having a seat on its extension to also co-act with the stock, rearwardly of the pivot, and a spring whose tension is exerted upon the jaw extensions to urge the jaws normally toward each other.

9. A wrench comprising a pair of opposed jaws having angled extensions in interfitting, mutually slidable relation, a stock, and a pivot holding one of the jaws upon thc` stock, the pivotal jaw having a seat behind its Work-face to co-aet With the peripheral end of the stock, inthe transverse piane of the pivot, and the other jaw having a seat on its extension to also co-act with the stock rearwardly of the pivot, the jaw extensions having lateral, angled clearances to permit inward looking motion to the jaws in their gripping operation.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in 10 the city, county and State of New York, this 4th day of April 1922.

THOMAS H'. nose.k 

